A reflection of Trump’s wish to preserve “peace through strength,” the Republican administration will not limit the role of nuclear weapons to deterrence and counterattacks against a nuclear attack, they said.

The implication of 'unprecedented' here doesn't hold water. The USA has NEVER adopted a No First Use Policy. Even Obama did not do so; the article is wrong.

Google "Flexible Response". It's been NATO Policy forever. One of the first major exercises involving simulated first use Tac Nukes happened in the 50s. In the 70s, given the perception of huge Soviet Formations combined with the malaise after Vietnam, tac nukes were further expanded in Europe as a means of holding off the Soviets' massive quantitative advantage, short of a general Strategic Nuclear Exchange.

Threats have already been made to use full strength nukes. If he actually starts trying to use tactical nukes, he needs to be removed. What's to stop escalation? If one country uses tactical nukes against another capable country, a two eyes for an eye policy quickly escalates to full on nuclear war.

If one country uses tactical nukes against another capable country, a two eyes for an eye policy quickly escalates to full on nuclear war.

Mmmm, no. It is a standing theory among Russian war planners that if Russia uses tactical nukes in Europe there will be no retaliation because there are no US tactical nukes deployed there and full-scale nuclear response won't be considered for the fear of escalating it into MAD scenario. Moreover, the reasoning goes, because of the above, the mere threat of using tactical nukes guarantees them from full-scale conventional retaliation in case they decide to occupy, say, Baltic states.You see, those Russian fucks are constantly looking for novel ways to fuck their neighbors over.

The Trump administration will consider developing new low-yield, small nuclear weapons intended to ensure military dominance over rival powers like China, Russia and North Korea, the sources said, quoting an outline of the review.

Good luck with that. He avoids being swallowed up by south Korea, by keeping his huge military, and not becoming a major trading partner. But it's true that since China is no longer communist in the traditional sense, it seems reasonable that NK could at some point evolve a little too. It's self preservation that would keep him from giving p his nuclear ambitions.